Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector
Chapter 34 - 32: When the Rabbit Dies, the Fox Grieves, Execution of the Entire Clan

Chapter 34: Chapter 32: When the Rabbit Dies, the Fox Grieves, Execution of the Entire Clan

The slap sent stars bursting across Lin Yan’s vision. Half of her cheek swelled visibly, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

She had never suffered such humiliation in her entire life. The shock left her stunned, standing frozen as she clutched her face, having even forgotten to cry.

She finally realized that these men weren’t her father’s household guards, nor were they the servants she could beat and scold as she pleased.

They were the Emperor’s Personal Guard, killing machines who only obeyed the Emperor’s command.

Lin Hong, standing before the crowd, looked as if all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had been drained away.

He looked at his children being led away, at his wailing wives and concubines, at the estate about to be seized. The light in his eyes completely died, leaving nothing but ashen despair.

"Lu Ying, you are a ruthless man..." Lin Hong muttered.

Lu Ying looked at him expressionlessly, without a shred of pity in his eyes.

"Take them all away!"

Before dawn, news had already spread throughout the Capital City: the Lin Family had been raided overnight by the Imperial Guard, and the entire household, from top to bottom, had been thrown into the Celestial Prison.

The news sent a cold sweat running down the backs of many powerful figures from the Noble Families.

It struck too close to home; they felt a pang of sorrow for one of their own.

In truth, many of them had entertained the same thoughts as the Lin Family but simply hadn’t yet had the chance to act.

But after a brief moment of terror came the swift severing of ties.

They all knew that since the Emperor had acted so decisively, even mobilizing the Imperial Guard, he must be truly enraged. No one could save the Lin Family, and no one dared to try.

And so, by the time morning court convened, the very same men who might have been calling Lin Hong "brother" just yesterday were now scrambling over one another to publicly denounce the Lin Family.

According to them, the Lin Family was guilty of treason, their crimes so heinous and numerous they could not all be recorded. Even executing their entire clan, young and old, by a thousand cuts would not be enough to sate their hatred.

Upon the Throne, Emperor Yang Zhao remained expressionless, coolly observing the performance of his officials below without saying a word.

Only when the hall gradually quieted down, and no one made another sound, did Yang Zhao slowly speak.

"The Lin Family has betrayed the grace of the nation, a crime for which even death is too light a punishment. However, considering their ancestors’ contributions to the founding of our dynasty, the penalty of death by a thousand cuts would be improper."

Hearing this, many of the officials were stirred. They thought the Emperor, mindful of past loyalties, was about to issue a lenient sentence.

But Yang Zhao’s next words shocked them.

"But the law is without sentiment. Failure to punish them severely will not be enough to quell the public’s outrage. Relay my decree: The entire Lin Family, regardless of man, woman, old or young, shall all be taken to the public market and beheaded before the masses!"

Annihilation of the entire clan!

After a moment of dead silence, the officials dropped to their knees in unison, shouting, "Long live the Emperor!" Some of their voices, however, trembled with fear.

In a dark, damp cell of the Celestial Prison, Lin Hong huddled in a pile of straw. The former dignity of the Noble Family’s Patriarch had vanished completely, his face a mask of haggard anxiety.

He clung to one last sliver of hope.

He hoped that the Noble Families friendly with the Lin Family would intervene. He was willing to lose his entire fortune; as long as he kept his life, there was always a chance to rise again.

Just then, the heavy cell door was opened, and a piercing light shone in.

Lin Hong squinted. When he saw the visitor clearly, the last trace of color drained from his face.

The visitor wore the crimson robes of an official, his expression solemn. It was none other than the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lu Ying.

’It’s over.’

The moment he saw Lu Ying, Lin Hong knew that everything was over.

If this were merely about seizing his assets, the Emperor would never have sent Lu Ying, his sworn enemy.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims..."

Lu Ying expressionlessly unfurled the Holy Decree and began to read.

Upon hearing the words "taken to the public market and beheaded before the masses," all strength drained from his body. He collapsed to the floor like a boneless heap, his eyes hollow and devoid of all light.

Having read the decree, Lu Ying rolled up the Holy Decree and looked down at him, his voice like ice.

"Patriarch Lin, you have dug your own grave. This is the path you chose, so you have no one to blame but yourself."

"Heh... hehehe..."

Lin Hong, still on the floor, suddenly let out a wretched, hollow laugh. He slowly raised his head to stare coldly at Lu Ying.

"Don’t get too comfortable, Lu Ying. It won’t be long before the iron hooves of the barbarians on the grassland trample the Capital City! When that time comes, not a single one of you will survive. I’ll be waiting for you down the road to the underworld!"

Lu Ying merely smiled at the threat. "The empire has nurtured its scholars for a hundred years. Now, at this moment of life and death, it is our duty to serve the nation with our lives. It is our responsibility, and our glory."

He leaned in slightly, his voice cold. "And what of you, Patriarch Lin? You schemed your entire life, a master of cunning, yet you never imagined it would end like this, did you? Your family line severed, your name infamous for all eternity."

With that, Lu Ying turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, not sparing the condemned man another glance.

The news that the Lin Family would be executed at Noon the next day spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of the Capital City.

The common folk rushed to share the news, celebrating with great joy.

The next day, before dawn, the public market was already a sea of people. Every rooftop, wall, and tree branch with a view of the execution ground was crammed with onlookers. Those who came late could only stand on tiptoe at the back, craning their necks in frustration.

As Noon approached, dozens of prisoner carts, escorted by soldiers, rolled onto the execution grounds.

In the lead prisoner cart was Lin Hong, his face ashen.

When he saw the black-pressed sea of people around him and felt their contemptuous glares, an unprecedented wave of humiliation washed over him. He was so mortified he wished for death, and could only bow his head low, not daring to meet a single eye.

In the cart behind him, his precious son, Lin Rui, was so terrified that tears and snot streamed down his face. A warm wetness spread across his crotch, and the acrid smell of urine drew a wave of derisive laughter from the crowd.

Also crying pitifully was the third young lady, Lin Yan.

Her once-delicate face was now streaked with dirt and tears as she shrieked and begged for her life.

Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to their wails.

Today’s Executioner was none other than Lu Ying.

Clad in his official robes, his expression was stony. He turned a deaf ear to the Lin Family’s cries for mercy.

Once all the prisoners were kneeling on the execution platform, he glanced up at the sky. Then, he drew a red-tipped tally from its holder and tossed it to the ground without a moment’s hesitation.

"Execute!"

At his command, the waiting headsmen took a swig of strong liquor, spraying it across the blades of their greatswords.

Then, hands rose, and blades fell!

THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!

Blood sprayed, and one after another, the once-noble heads rolled into the dust.

The tens of thousands of spectators on the execution grounds fell silent for an instant, then erupted into thunderous cheers.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse not far from the public market.

Chen Ye sat by the window, taking in every scene that unfolded in the distance.

When he saw the members of the Lin Family all beheaded, his expression did not change in the slightest. He just picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

The tea was bitter at first, but left a sweet aftertaste.

Just like his revenge.